Playground ball and process of producing the same



Nov. 4 1924. 1,513,753

w. H. FOX

PLAYGROUND BALL AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filea Nov. 25, 1923 illustrate the invention, like Patented Na. 4, 1924.

T Il

WILLIA H. Fox, on MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

Application filedQTovember 23, 1923. Serial No. 676,562.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. Fox, a

citizen of the United States, residing atv Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PlaygroundBalls and Processes of Producing the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same.

My present invention provides an improved process of making play-ground balls of the baseball type.

In the accompanying drawings, which characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved playground ball, I

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken centrally through said ball;

Fig. 3 is a view in diagram showing, by means of full lines, the two cover sections in their relative arrangement in which they will be wrapped around a body, andby means of dotted lines, the upper cover section is shown in position on the lower cover section to receive the first stitches in connecting said sections; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section taken transversely through one of the seams between the cover sections on an enlarged scale.

It is thought that the description ofthe improved playground ball will the best understood by giving the progressive steps in the process of producing the same, and the first step is to out, preferably by dies, two duplicate 8-shaped cover sections 5 and 6 of leather or other suitable material, and each of said sections has a circular end portion and concave intermediate edge portions. These two cover sections 5 and 6, when their outer edge portions are connected by stitches, form a sphere for receiving a body member, as will hereinafter appear.

At the time the cover section 5 is formed there is also formed thereon a central longi tudinal slot 7 of such length as to extend substantially throughout one-half of the circumference of the sphere formed by the cover sections 5 and 6. At this same time, needle holes 8 are punched in the longitudinal edge portion of the cover section thereto. At the 5 at the slot 7. Preferably, as shown, the slot '7 is located with its ends equidistant from the ends of the cover section 5 but it is, of course, understood that said slot may be formed by slitting said cover section through one end thereof and extending said slit a distance sufficient to form the slot 7.

The next step is in skiving the marginal edge portions of the cover sections 5 and 6 to relatively thin edges 9.

The next step is in placing the cover section 5 over one of the rounded ends of the cover section 6, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3, and with the finished or outer faces of the cover sections turned toward each other.

The next' -step is in connecting the overlapped edge portions of the cover sections 5 and 6, preferably by sewing the same on a power machine, to produce stitches 10. This sewing is preferably started at 11, and to bring the marginal 'edge portions of the cover sections 5 and 6 into overlapping arrangement to receive the stitches 9, one 0 said cover sections is turned or rotated in respect to the other and in a plane parallel completion of the sewing of the cover sect-ions 5 and 6 together, the cover is wrong side out and the stitches 10 and free edge portions of the cover sections at the 8-shaped seam 12 are on the outside of the said cover. To turn the cover right side out, the same is inserted through the slot 7 to bring the skived edges 9 and stitches 10 on the inside of the cover so that the seam 12 on the outside of the cover is smooth.

The next step is in providing a relatively solid preformed body 13 of any suitable construction and insertingthe same through the slot 7 and into the cover. The size of this body 13 is such that the cover will be tightly drawn thereover,

The next step is in closing the slot '7 by drawing the respective edge portions of the cover section 5 together by means of double stitches produced. by inserting suitable thread 14: through the needle holes 8. At the completion of the closing of the slot 7, the-ends of the thread are tied in. a

knot 15, and said knot inserted through the,

slot 7 between the cover and body 13.

The purpose of skiving the edges 9 is to reduce the stock and make the. ed es relatively pliable so that they will be olded or turned and thereby more easily embedded in the body 13; If necessary,t-he cover may be slightly pounded along the fit-shaped seam 12 to cause the edges 9 and stitches 10 to completely embed themselves in the body 13 so as to leave the exterior of the ball perfectly smooth without any ridges or uneven spots. e

The above described process of forming .the cover for a playground ball makes it ing in the seam 12 through which the cover can be inserted to turn the same inside out and through which the body 13 may be inserted within the cover. could thereafter be closed produce an inseam. What I claim is:

1. 'The process of forming a cover for a playground ball which consists in providing sections which, when connected ,form a sphere, forming a slot in one of said sections, overlapping the edge portions of said sections and connecting the same with stitches, and inserting said cover through the slot to turn the same inside out and bring said stitches and the free edge portions This opening by stitches to r of said sections on the inside of the cover.

2. The process of forming a'playground ball which consists in providing cover sections which when connected form a sphere,

' ing the forming a slot in one of said sections, overlapping the edge portions of said sections, connecting the same with stitches, inserting said cover through the slot to turn inside out and .bring said stitches and the free edge portions of said sections on the inside of the cover,.inserting a. pro-formed relatively, solid body through said slot and into the cover, and drawing the edges of the cover together at the slot to close the same. I

3. The process of forming a cover for a playground ball which consists in providing two 8-shaped sections which when connected form a sphere, forming a slot in. one of said sections, laying one end of one ot said sections transversely across the intermediate portion of the other of said sections, stitchedge portions of the sections together, during the turning of one of said sections in respect to the other to bring the edge portions of said sections into overlapping" relation, and inserting the cover through said slot to turn the cover inside out and bring said stitches and the free edge portions of said sections on the inside of the cover;

l, The process defined 1n claim 2 includthe same.

ing a further step in skiving the free edge portions of said sections to relatively thin edges.

5. The process of forming a playground ball which consists in providing two -shaped cover sections which when connected form a sphere, forming a slot in one of said sections, overlapping the edge portions of said sections and connecting the same with stitches, inserting said cover through the slot to turn the same inside out and bring said stitches and the free edge portions of said sections on the inside of the cover,-

inserting a pre-formed relatively solid body through said slot and into the cover, drawing the edges of said cover together at the slot with double stitches to close the same, tying thesends of said stitches, and inserting the same through the slot and within the cover.

6. The process of forming a playgound ball which consists in cutting two ti-shaped sections which when connected form a sphere, cutting a slot in one of said sections and forming needle holes in the marginal edge portions of said section at said slot,

overlapping the edge portions of said sec-v tions, connecting the same with stitches, inserting said cover through the slot to turn the same inside out and bring said stitches and the free edge portions of said cover sections on the inside of the cover, inserting a pie-formed relatively solid body through said slot and into the cover, and running a thread through said needle holes to draw the edges of the cover together at the slot to close the same.

7. The process of forming a cover for a playground ball which consists in providing sections which when connected form a sphere, overlapping the edge portions of said sections, connecting the same with stitches, inserting said cover through. an opening in the cover to turn the same inside out and bring said stitches and the free edge portions of said sections on the inside of the cover, inserting a pre-formed relatively solid body through said opening, and drawing the edges of the cover together at the opening to close the same.

8. The process of forming a cover for a playground ball which consists in providing sections which, when connected form a sphere, leaving an opening in the cover, overlapping the edgewportions of said sections and connecting the same with stitches, inserting said cover through said opening to turn the same inside out and bring the stitches and the free edge portions of said sections on the inside of the cover, inserting a pre-tormed relatively solid body through said opening, and closing said opening.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

WILLIAM 11-1. JFQJX 

